Investigating the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility: A cross-sectional study

Background: Infertility affects individual’s and couples’ adjustment. The defense mechanism and marital adjustment are mental processes that play a key role in infertile couples’ life. Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of defense mechanisms on marital adjustment in infertile couples based on the cause of infertility. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 infertile couples at Royan Institute (A referral center for infertility, Tehran, Iran). Infertile couples were divided into 4 groups based on the cause of infertility (female, male, both, and unknown). Demographic questionnaire, revised dyadic adjustment scale, and defense styles questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: Results showed that the mean score of marital adjustment of men based on the cause of infertility (female, male, and both) was significantly higher in comparison with their wives (p = 0.04, p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between the mean score of women, men, and couples (women and husbands) in defense mechanisms. But marital adjustment has a significant positive correlation with mature defense mechanisms and a negative correlation with immature ones (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The mean score of marital adjustment is higher in men than in their wives in all groups. So, counseling infertile couples in the field of marital adjustment and training in the use of mature defense mechanisms is recommended especially in women. Key words: Defense mechanism, Marital relationship, Infertility

Medical residents’ attitude toward professionalism and assessment of their professional behaviors: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Professionalism training is a core component of medical education. This study’s aim was to determine medical residents’ attitudes toward professionalism and self-reported professional behaviors. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, 100 medical residents in their first through third years were invited to participate in a survey between April and June of 2015. Participants responded to a written questionnaire consisting of 7 demographic and 42 content items in 4 domains. Content items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Results with a mean of less than three were considered undesirable. A non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare distributions in the study groups. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. Results: With a response rate of 87%, a mean age of 31.9 (SD: 3.0) was recorded. The mean Likert score for the perception of residents on the ethical importance of “colleague report” and “reporting error” was undesirable. The percentage of residents’ self-reported unprofessional behaviors during their training was high. Moreover, 71% (95% CI: 61-80) of residents believed that ethics should be formally taught in the medical school curriculum. Over 97% (95% CI: 94-100) believed that learning medical ethics and professionalism requires more than a theoretical course. A longitudinal approach was the most agreed-upon format. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, despite a relatively acceptable rate of professional behaviors, residents perceive a need for a more comprehensive curricular attention to practical ethics and ethically important professional development during residency training

بررسی عملکرد حرفه ای و نگرش به حرفه گرایی در رسانه های مجازی در دانشجویان پزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قزوین در سال 1400-1399

زمینه و هدف: با توجه به گره خوردن رسانه¬های مجازی و کار پزشکی به یکدیگر، پزشکان باید حساب¬های کاربری خود را در رسانه¬های مجازی اداره کنند تا بتوانند به حرفه¬ای گرایی در جهان دیجیتال دست یابند. استفاده¬ی موثر از تکنولوژی¬های ارتباطی مستلزم آگاهی از اصول استفاده از آن است. این مطالعه قصد دارد چگونگی استفاده¬ی دانشجویان پزشکی از شبکه-های مجازی، رفتار حرفه¬ای و نگرش آنان به حرفه¬ای گرایی را در این رسانه¬ها بررسی کند. مواد و روش¬ها: در پژوهش اپیدمیولوژیک توصیفی حاضر، 255 نفر از کارورزان و کارآموزان پزشکی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی قزوین به صورت سرشماری شرکت کردند. پرسشنامه¬ی مورد استفاده با استفاده از پرسشنامه¬های مطالعات قبلی مشابه تدوین شد و روایی و پایایی آن بررسی و تائید شد. داده¬های جمع آوری شده در نرم افزار spss مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته¬ها: براساس یافته¬های پژوهش، اکثریت دانشجویان زن و اکثرا مجرد بودند. میانگین سنی 64/24 و میانگین استفاده از فضای مجازی 72/3 ساعت در شبانه¬روز بود. اکثریت پروفایل شخصی داشتند و حساب¬های کاربری¬شان را تفکیک نکرده بودند. میانگین نمره رفتار حرفه¬ای 86/26 بود. رفتار حرفه¬ای دانشجویان با جنسیت و وضعیت تاهل رابطه¬ی معنا¬داری نداشت اما با سن و مقطع تحصیلی رابطه¬ی معنا¬داری داشت. میانگین نمرات نگرش دانشجویان به حرفه¬ای گرایی 15/23 بود که رابطه¬ی معنا¬داری با سن، جنسیت و وضعیت تاهل نداشت. نمره¬ی نگرش دانشجویان مقطع کارآموزی از کارورزان بیشتر بود. نتیجه گیری کلی: رفتار حرفه¬ای دانشجویان پزشکی در فضای مجازی در وضعیت متوسط رو به پایین و نگرش دانشجویان به حرفه¬ای گرایی نیز در وضعیت متوسط قرارداشت؛ بنابراین نیاز به ایجاد برنامه هایی در راستای بهبود این نگرش برای ارتقا وضعیت رفتار حرفه¬ای الزامی است. کلید واژه ها: فضای مجازی-حرفه ای گرایی- نگرش به حرفه ای گرایی- دانشجو- پزشکی – رسانه های مجازی- اخلاق حرفه ا

Evaluation of dentin penetration of three different endodontic sealers in the presence and absence of the smear layer

Introduction: A sealer’s ability to effectively and stably penetrate the dentinal tubules is an essential factor for selecting an effective root canal obturation material. Evaluation of the sealers’ penetration into the dentinal tubules provides valuable data in the endodontic treatment outcome.Aim: To compare the dentin penetration of AH Plus, Endoseal MTA, and Syntex endodontic sealers in the presence and absence of the smear layer.Materials and methods: Thirty single-rooted teeth were selected in the present in vitro study and randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n=10). Half of the samples were prepared by removing the smear layer in each group, and the remaining samples were prepared without removing the smear layer. Root canal preparation was carried out with the Perfect Rotary system up to file T3. The root canals were obturated with gutta-percha and AH Plus, Endoseal MTA, or Syntex endodontic sealers. The samples were incubated at 100% relative humidity at 37°C for one week. Each root was sectioned at 2-, 5-, and 8-mm distances from the apex, and sealer penetration depth at each section was determined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). ANOVA was used to compare penetration depths.Results: There were significant differences in sealer penetration between the samples with and without smear layer removal in each group. The maximum and minimum sealer penetration was at the coronal and apical sections, respectively. The maximum sealer penetration depths in descending order were observed with AH Plus, Syntex, and Endoseal MTA sealers (p<0.05).Conclusions: Elimination of smear layer increased three sealers’ dentin penetration depth, with the deepest penetration for the AH Plus sealer in the coronal section without the smear layer

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticle synthesized by a microwave-assisted combustion method and catalytic activity for the removal of ortho-nitrophenol

ZnO nanoparticles were manufactured using microwave-assisted combustion. The structural and morphological properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Photocatalytic degradation of ortho-nitrophenol (O-NP) in aqueous solution using the synthesized nanoparticles was performed under UV–C irradiation and is reported for the first time. The effect of the initial O-NP concentration, amount of photocatalyst, pH, and salt was investigated during photodegradation. Analysis of the degraded samples using HPLC with UV detection revealed that photocatalysis in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles removed 98% of the O-NP in 5 h. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation kinetics of O-NP were studied, and the results suggest that the data are best fitted to pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir–Hinshelwood models

Prodrug polymeric nanoconjugates encapsulating gold nanoparticles for enhanced X-Ray radiation therapy in breast cancer

This work was supported by the Deputy of Research of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (A-12-848-30). J.C. acknowledges financial support from the European Research Council – ERC Starting Grant 848325.An optimal radiosensitizer with improved tumor retention have an important effect in tumor radiation therapy. Herein, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and drug containing, mPEG-conjugated CUR (mPEG-CUR), self-assembled NPs (mPEG-CUR@Au) were developed and evaluated as a drug carrier and radiosensitizer in a breast cancer mice model. As a result, cancer therapy efficacy was improved significantly by applying all-in-one NPs to achieve synchronous chemoradiotherapy, as evidenced by studies evaluating cell viability, proliferation, and ROS production. In vivo anticancer experiments showed that the mPEG-CUR@Au system improves the radiation sensitivity of 4T1 mammary carcinoma and completely abrogates breast cancer. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.publishersversionpublishe

Association of rs1800624 Polymorphism in Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Gene Promoter with the Risk of Diabetic Nephropathy

Background and Aim: Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy are still unclear, the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their associated receptors (AGER) in initiating the inflammatory process in this disease has attracted attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rs1800624 polymorphism of AGER gene with risk of diabetic nephropathy in Iranian population. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, patients were divided into two groups, group1 without diabetic nephropathy (n = 71) and group2 with diabetic nephropathy (n = 79). TETRA-Primer ARMS-PCR technique was used to determine the frequency of genotype and allele of rs1800624 polymorphism in the promoter region of AGER gene. Using standard methods, biochemical tests including measurement of glucose, creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin and blood urea nitrogen and calculation of eGFR were performed. We used SPSS and FAMHAP softwares for data analysis. Results: The results showed that AA genotype rs1800624 polymorphism in the promoter region of the AGER gene may be associated with an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy. Allele analysis also showed that allele A of the polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of developing nephropathy, although the results were not statistically significant between the two groups in relation to rs1800624 polymorphism. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between rs1800624 polymorphism in AGER gene with diabetic nephropathy in the Iranian population, but increase in sample size may result in a tendency to develop diabetic nephropathy